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Is Heroin Addiction Really a Victimless Crime?

Drug addiction, especially heroin addiction, is a substance use disorder that is rarely talked about. In 2015, about 591,000 people suffered from a heroin use disorder. Of these people, 6,000 were teenagers and 155,000 were young adults. Heroin addiction is a real problem that requires a real solution. While many people view heroin and other drug addictions as an independent, or victimless crime, this is actually not the case. Heroin addictions affect the communities we live in and have an effect on our overall economy.

Reduction in home values
High instances of drugs in a community increase the crime rates. When the crime rates are increase, the home values decrease. This decrease in the home value of the community puts a strain on everyone?s economical and financial situation. Fewer people want to move to a city with high crime and drug rates and this also can hurt a community, or city. A single city that invests money into a methadone treatment center can receive returns greater than the initial investments, in terms of increased home values and an increase demand for the city, in general.

Reduction in school success
People choose where they want to live based on the schools too. High drug use and high crime also leads to higher rates of youth and their availability to drugs. Drug use and youth is already a problem that many communities are dealing with. In 2015, an estimated 21,000 adolescents had used heroin in the past year, and an estimated 5,000 were current heroin users. Additionally, an estimated 6,000 adolescents had a heroin use disorder in 2014. High numbers of heroin use in a city increase the number of youth who eventually also have a heroin use problem. Investing in and building methadone rehab centers give both adults and children a treatment option.

Small business failures
Small businesses are also very important to the success of a city. Small businesses employ city residents. The taxes from the business go back into city roads, schools, and other organizations. You will also notice that cities with high rates of crime and drug use do not have as many of successful small businesses. Small business owners tend to navigate toward cities with opportunity and large customer counts. They also want to avoid cities with crime to prevent their business from suffering theft.

Greater strain on the economy
Statistics show that people with all types of addictions, including pill addiction, gambling addictions, and heroin addiction put a strain economically on the economy. People with addictions have a harder time holding down full time jobs and thus, have to collect from government funded programs. Too many residents in a city on government aid can reduce the quality of the city. There are less taxes going back into the community and with more people on state aid, there is not as much of disposable income to fuel the city.

The financial decision of a methadone clinic
Many cities may be hesitant to build or invest in a methadone clinic within their town. However, methadone treatments can be extremely effective in reducing city crime and in preventing heavy strains on the city?s economy. Any city that is dealing with high heroin addictions, or any other addiction, could benefit greatly from an inner city addiction treatment center.

Drugs are a persisting problem in our country. According to a 2014 survey, 2.7% of people aged 12 and over in the U.S. were dependent on illicit drugs in the previous year. Despite common beliefs, addictions are not always victimless crimes. They affect the community in underlying ways, including financially, economically, and by putting youth at risk for high use and high crime rates.